Category: Bulls

3 Zach LaVine trades to reshape the Chicago Bulls around DeMar DeRozan

As the Chicago Bulls begin a crucial offseason, here are three Zach LaVine trades that could help reshape the roster around DeMar DeRozan.

The Chicago Bulls aren’t a championship-caliber team. They have made the playoffs in one of two seasons with their current core, and this past season, they took a huge step backward. Arturas Karnisovas seems intent on competing with the current iteration of the roster, but that may not be a feasible option.

So where do they go from here? Well, KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reported that league executives are “skeptical about the long-term marriage between Zach LaVine and the Bulls.” And Sam Smith of NBA.com noted that DeMar DeRozan has the “most support internally” of the Big Three members. So, maybe the best path forward is to build a new team with DeRozan at the helm.

Chicago just inked LaVine to a massive contract extension this past summer, but trading him could be the best way for them to improve significantly. With that in mind, here are three potential LaVine trades the Bulls could pull off to reshape the roster around DeRozan.

Bulls’ Scottie Pippen slams Michael Jordan: ‘He was a horrible player’

According to Scottie Pippen, before the Chicago Bulls became a true team, Michael Jordan was “a horrible player.”

The 1990s were a beautiful time for the Chicago Bulls. They were on top of the world. Led by Michael Jordan, they won six championships and never lost in the NBA Finals. They dominated for nearly an entire decade. From 1990 to 1998, the only two years they didn’t win the title were when Jordan left the NBA to pursue a baseball career.

Jordan didn’t do it alone, though. He had Scottie Pippen by his side for every title, and the duo towered over the league. However, there is evidently no love lost between the two players. On Stacey King’s “Gimme The Hot Sauce” podcast, Pippen slammed his long-time teammate.

Pippen had some high praise for Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, calling him the best statistical player ever.

“LeBron will be the greatest statistical guy to ever play the game of basketball,” Pippen said. “And there’s no comparison to him. None. So does that make him the greatest player to ever play the game?”

He then went on to call Jordan a “horrible player.”

“I’ll leave that up for debate, because I don’t believe there’s a great player because our game’s a team game, and one player can’t do it,” said Pippen. “I saw Jordan play before I came to play with the Bulls. You guys saw him play. He was a horrible player. He was horrible to play with. He was all one-on-one, he’s shooting bad shots, and all of a sudden we become a team and we start winning and everybody forgot who he was.”

Jordan is widely regarded as the best player in the history of basketball, but according to Pippen, he was nothing before the Bulls became an effective team.

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Coby White should be on Chicago Bulls ‘free-agent big board’

Coby White will be a restricted free agent this summer, and the Chicago Bulls need to look to re-sign him.

The Chicago Bulls only have six players fully under contract heading into next season. They have two more on options and another two on non-guaranteed contracts. However, there are five players who were in their regular-season rotation last season who will be free agents this summer, whether restricted or unrestricted.

Arturas Karnisovas has made it clear that he does not intend to rebuild the roster. He wants to compete with the current core. And if that’s the case, Chicago will need to bring back their rotational guys. One of those guys, who emerged as an important piece toward the end of this past season, is Coby White.

The 23-year-old point guard played very well down the stretch of the year, and now, according to Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, White needs to be toward the top of their “free-agent big board.”

“Flip from the stat sheet to the film, though, and you’ll see the strides he made as a distributor and defender,” Buckley wrote. “This was the clearest indication yet he could become more than a spark-plug scorer off the bench. With his career trajectory suddenly pointing straight up, this would be the wrong time for the Bulls to let him go.

“And they don’t have to. He’s a restricted free agent, meaning they’ll have the right of refusal on any offer sheet he signs. That means they can search around for backcourt upgrades while White’s market materializes and then match anything he lands within reason.”

With Lonzo Ball’s injury, the Bulls need as much point guard depth as possible, so re-signing White should be a top priority.

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Nikola Vucevic could ask for raise from Chicago Bulls this offseason

After a full 82-game season, there’s a good chance Nikola Vucevic asks the Chicago Bulls for a raise this summer.

Despite getting eliminated in the first round, the 2021-22 season was a massive success for the Chicago Bulls. They snapped a four-year playoff drought thanks to the solid play of their new-look core. Unfortunately, they took a step back this past year, getting bounced in the Play-In Tournament.

Now, they will have some tough decisions to make this summer. Blowing up the roster could be a solid option, but Arturas Karnisovas has made it clear that he does not intend to start a rebuild. In turn, Chicago must decide what to do with their current core. And one of the players, big man Nikola Vucevic, could be asking for a raise this offseason.

Vucevic is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and at 32 years old, his next deal will take him into his mid-30s. However, KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago believes that the big man could ask for a raise, as he just played a full 82-game season.

“This may be better answered by posing my own question: Do you think a player who just played all 82 games and finished third in the NBA in double-doubles is going to ask for a raise? Because I do,” Johnson wrote when asked about what fair value could be in a Vucevic deal.

Johnson thinks Chicago should look to hand him a short-term contract.

“Now, in a market where most teams projected to have significant salary cap space are rebuilding, can Vucevic get more than the $22 million he made last season on the open market?” Johnson wrote. “He and Brook Lopez are the biggest available names at center.

“I think a good solution might be to do a short-term deal at slightly above his 2022-23 salary. Say, two years and $48-50 million or three years at $66-72 million. Remember: Letting Vucevic walk for nothing after what the Bulls gave up to acquire him would be a bad look. And for all the focus on Vucevic’s shortcomings, he remains a durable, double-double machine who has the skill level and IQ to fit with various personnel.”

Vucevic is a solid player, but the Bulls have to look in the mirror and figure out how much they are willing to pay him.

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Andre Drummond ‘might look for a bigger role’ away from Chicago Bulls

Andre Drummond was a solid backup center for the Chicago Bulls, but if they bring back Nikola Vucevic, he may want a bigger role elsewhere.

This summer could see the Chicago Bulls make a ton of changes. Arturas Karnisovas revealed his intentions to keep the team together at the end of this past season. While that could change, it looks like the core of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic will remain intact heading into next year.

But if that’s the case, Chicago will need to make some major adjustments to the rest of the roster in order to be competitive. And while a lot of that will be on them, some players from last year’s roster could also decide to move on. According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, Andre Drummond could attempt to leave Chicago if Vucevic returns.

Drummond settled into a bench role last season with the Bulls, backing up Vucevic. However, if Vucevic comes back, Drummond could potentially want to search for a larger role on another team.

“Up front, Andre Drummond would be fine as a backup five for $3.4 million,” Smith wrote. “He remains an elite rebounder and solid finisher inside. Drummond’s fate could be tied to that of Vucevic. If the Bulls are re-signing Vucevic, Drummond might look for a bigger role elsewhere.”

That being said, Drummond is still under contract for next season. He would have to request a trade if he wanted to find a larger role elsewhere.

However, that could be best for the Bulls, who could be active on the trade market. Finding a more defensive-minded center or one who can also space the floor, like Vucevic, could be a solid option, and it would also allow Drummond the opportunity to thrive in another situation.

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Chicago Bulls need to ‘restart this core’ or ‘break it up a bit’

As the Chicago Bulls enter a crucial offseason, they have some very tough roster decisions to make.

This offseason will be crucial for the Chicago Bulls. Two years ago, they completely changed the course of their franchise, trading for Nikola Vucevic and signing DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso in free agency. Since then, they made one playoff appearance, but this past season, they took a step backward, getting eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.

If the Bulls want to push forward and be competitive again next season, the team cannot remain the same. Arturas Karnisovas seems intent on keeping the current core together, and if that’s the case, they will need to make some serious changes around them. Larry Hawley of WGN9 thinks the Bulls have two options – make big moves or reset.

Hawley penned a piece detailing the future of Chicago’s organization and the uncertainty ahead of them this summer. He said that it’s up to Karnisovas and Marc Eversley to turn things around this offseason one way or another.

“It will be up to Karnisovas and Eversley to make the right moves to restart this core or perhaps break it up a bit to get the Bulls closer to an NBA title drought that is now 25 years long,” Hawley wrote.

The current core in place in Chicago simply is not good enough to compete for a title. And it might not be good enough to win a playoff series.

Maybe Chicago is content with fighting for a playoff spot and having a solid regular season, but if they hope to be more than that, something big needs to change this summer.

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The Chicago Bulls should sign Russell Westbrook in free agency

As the Chicago Bulls look to regroup and retool this summer, they should look to sign Russell Westbrook in free agency.

The Chicago Bulls have some serious decisions to make this summer. While some are speculating that they could look to blow up the roster, Arturas Karnisovas’ comments after the season indicate otherwise. He wants to compete, and he wants to do it with the current iteration of the roster.

If that’s the case, then some big changes will be needed. Chicago needs to add better big man depth, more forwards, and, arguably most importantly, a starting point guard. With Lonzo Ball sidelined, they have no go-to player at the one. As the offseason gets underway, Chicago should consider bringing Russell Westbrook in to be that guy.

When most fans think of Westbrook, they think of the Los Angeles Lakers version. The version that was traded away. The version the Lakers were better without. But Westbrook actually had a productive end of the season with the LA Clippers.

In 21 games with the Clippers, Westbrook averaged 15.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game on 48.9 percent shooting from the field and 35.6 percent shooting from deep.

The last time Westbrook was on a team where he could be the primary ball-handler night in and night out for a full year, he willed a subpar Washington Wizards to a playoff appearance with an incredible late-season push.

Chicago could allow Westbrook to be the best version of himself. They could put the ball in his hands and allow him to create for Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan.

And on top of that, the Bulls desperately need more veterans on the roster. They need players who can mentor their youngsters, and they would be hard-pressed to find someone who works harder, plays harder, and is a better veteran than Westbrook.

Chicago is the perfect landing spot for Westbrook, and as long as he doesn’t command too big of a contract, the Bulls should look to bring him in.

Derrick Rose return to Chicago Bulls makes ‘a ton of sense’

As the Chicago Bulls look to reshape their roster this summer, could a Derrick Rose return be in the cards?

At the end of the season, Arturas Karnisovas made it clear that he has no interest in rebuilding the Chicago Bulls again. Resetting the roster isn’t on his mind. And while the current core of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic doesn’t scream “championship contender,” the Bulls seem determined to make it work.

If that’s the plan, Chicago has a lot of reshaping to do. They lost in the Play-In Tournament this past year, and there are some serious holes on their roster. Improving their forward and center positions will be crucial, but they also need some help at point guard, especially with Lonzo Ball sidelined. When discussing the New York Knicks’ offseason, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype brought up a familiar name as a potential Chicago target in free agency.

Derrick Rose has a $15.6 million team option this summer, which Scotto predicts the Knicks to decline. If that’s the case, the Bulls could make a solid landing spot for the veteran point guard.

“When I was in Chicago for the NBA Draft Combine, some executives were wondering how much gas he still has in the tank?” Scotto said of Rose. “He’s got a huge number looking ahead towards next season, a team option for $15.6 million. That’s a lot of money for a guy who was seldomly used. You’d imagine the Knicks would decline that option. In my opinion, I think the Chicago Bulls make a ton of sense for Derrick Rose in free agency. It would be a nice homecoming for him towards the end of his career. We saw when he was back in town how beloved he is still by that fan base.”

The Bulls need some point guard depth, and they could definitely use a veteran to mentor Ayo Dosunmu and Coby white. Could a Rose return be in the cards?

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League execs ‘skeptical’ of Zach LaVine’s future with Chicago Bulls

Zach LaVine just signed an extension with the Chicago Bulls last summer, but NBA execs are “skeptical about the long-term marriage.”

The Chicago Bulls are in a tricky spot. Their current Big Three of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic is solid, but it doesn’t seem to be a championship-caliber group. If Chicago’s goal is to be competitive and fight for the playoffs, their roster is fine, but the Bulls likely have bigger aspirations than that.

For now, though, Arturas Karnisovas has publicly stated that he’s not interested in a rebuild. However, according to KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, there has been some speculation among NBA executives around the league that LaVine may not have a long-term future with the Bulls.

In a recent mailbag, Johnson wrote about LaVine’s potential future in Chicago. And while he noted that the rumors of a New York Knicks trade were blown out of proportion, he did admit that there’s some skepticism surrounding his time in Chicago.

“But several rival executives who NBC Sports Chicago talked to at the combine are skeptical about the long-term marriage between Zach LaVine and the Bulls,” Johnson wrote. “LaVine, who has been loyal to the Bulls, has grown tired of consistently landing in trade rumors, although talk of the New York Knicks’ interest at the trade deadline was overstated.”

And while Chicago has consistently supported LaVine, the talk surrounding his future with the Bulls looms large.

“LaVine also represents the Bulls’ most dynamic scorer in terms of his ability to heat up either beyond the arc or attacking the rim,” Johnson wrote. “Again, the Bulls publicly have backed LaVine at every opportunity so believe that for now over rival executives’ speculation. But that speculation is prevalent enough to acknowledge.”

Chicago just handed LaVine a massive extension last summer, and they seem intent on keeping him around for now. But how long will that last?

Jakob Poeltl listed as potential Chicago Bulls free agency target

As the Chicago Bulls look to reshape their roster this summer, Jakob Poeltl could be a potential target in free agency.

The Chicago Bulls have a few positions of need this summer. They could use a better point guard, some depth at the forward position, but perhaps most importantly, an improved center depth chart. Two years ago, Chicago traded for Nikola Vucevic at the trade deadline, and he’s played well for the Bulls since then. However, he’ll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and Chicago could be better off going in another direction.

At 32 years old, Vucevic’s next contract will likely take him into his mid-30s, and his game may not age well. Instead of re-signing Vucevic, Chicago could target a younger center who could grow with their current core. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report suggested Jakob Poeltl as a potential target in free agency.

Poeltl was traded to the Toronto Raptors at the trade deadline this past season, but Chicago could attempt to lure him away this offseason. His defensive presence and pick-n-roll game could give Chicago a new look at the center spot.

“He blocks shots, he rebounds and he can survive a perimeter switch when needed,” Buckley wrote. “He plays sound defense and could be a tone-setter for this team at that end. On offense, he doesn’t need touches and sets solid screens, both of which would help him fit a Bulls offense that had the second-highest percentage of offensive possessions finished by pick-and-roll ball-handlers, per NBA.com.”

The 27-year-old big man may be a bit too expensive for the Bulls, but it would be worth it for them to at least make an offer. Buckley also noted that Poeltl is a better fit than Vucevic.

“Add in the fact Poeltl is only 27, and he’s someone who could hang around the Windy City for a while,” Buckley wrote. “You can debate whether he’s more talented than Vučević, but Poeltl pretty clearly is the better fit for this roster.”

Toronto will likely look to bring him back, but the Bulls should definitely be interested.

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